Figurehead

twenty-one

She should have reached us by now. Long ago, really. A messenger has already handed me a bunch of letters from my family that have made me smile. My sister has called me a fool at least four times in her message, both my parents have reprimanded me in theirs and all three have ended after lengthy words of mixed emotions.

I sent another messenger away with my replies of reassurance. But they will receive these in a little over three days, and who knows what will happen before then?

I stand on the step before the closed door to my dwelling as the snow floats slowly down. I think it's falling light now. I think. There isn't much light, but there doesn't need to be. With the temporary roofing have been raised some lanterns on staffs, rooted into the earth. A handful of children slide their way past, disrupting snow and tossing it into the air behind them.

"Hey," someone calls, walking down the street. He comes to a stop a short distance before me and holds up a sealed message in scruffy-gloved hands. "This is for you," he whispers dramatically, dark eyes glittering in amusement.

"Thanks, Med." I take the message from him.

He nods once. "See you around." I nod. He continues on his way down the street. I break the seal and tuck the two halves into my pocket, unfurling the parchment and furrowing my eyebrows at its contents even as a snowball fight breaks out in the street before me and shrieks, shouts, cheers and laughs manage to trickle into my ears.

Janf. Your presence as trusted messenger is requested in the Avu empire by Tri and Riu. Someone else has more information. You know who. Sorry the message is short. And vague.
-Tri.

I frown, folding it up and slipping it into my cloak as my eyes readjust to the fight in front of me. There's not that many children here, but they are all gloved, cloaked or pelted and dusted with snow and mud, and all making a lot of noise.

I shove my hands in my pockets and inch past unnoticed, swerving past a different crowd of children huddled together, fidgeting as they wait to be served with dried sweets brought from Aranakiu. They only sell these here once every season. It takes a long time to dry them out properly.

Some of the serving are pushing snow off part of the steps, looking out over the streets and the marketplace a distance away. Perhaps some of their children are out there. I nod to them as I pass, but they don't notice. Juk barely acknowledges my presence, head bent low as he makes his slow way down the steps. Another guard is stoic, standing in his place.

"Who are you?" he asks.

"Janf, trusted messenger." His expression is full of doubt. I roll my eyes and push my hair and part of my cloak aside so he can catch a glimpse of the ink marking me as who I say I am.

He eyes me, still mistrustful. "Fine."

I try not to respond in a way I'll later regret, nodding politely instead before continuing down the hall. It is his job, after all, to be careful. To hold suspicion. I don't envy it.

"Janf, is it?" I turn at the sound of a child's voice. Her golden eyes and faint smile are familiar. "He's in the prayer room."

"Thanks, Alip." I see her eyebrows raise briefly before she nods once and heads down a different passageway. I head for the former storeroom. Although it is apparently called the prayer room now. Fitting.

I stop by the closed door and knock softly on the hard, old surface after a pause. "It's me." I tuck my hands in my pockets and wait. I don't wait long before the door swings open and he stands before me, a firefly nestled in his hand. I glance past him. The room is empty. "Did I disrupt you?" I return my gaze to his.